Splash-inhibiting fountain unit

ABSTRACT

A fountain has a translucent molded plastic basin with a unitary conduit piece integral therewith to provide upstanding fluid conduits for the bottom of the basin. The conduits have directional, fluid passageways therethrough which provide a nozzle for the fountain jets of fluid. Fluid drains between the conduits to a central pump mounted in a central depressed receiving chamber integral with the basin. A fluid supply system carries fluid from the pump to the conduits; these conduits have flow-restricting washers of different size to regulate fluid flow to various conduits. In multiple tiered basin fountains directional jets are disposed at the bottom of the upper basins and direct the jet streams so that they fall on a splash-inhibiting member such as a smooth inclined splash board.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Doll W- Power 2,974,871 3/1961 Naythons 239/20 X R.R.l, Rushville. Ind. 46173 3.008.646 I 1/1961 Benak r 239/20 [21] Appl. No. 857,299 3,071,326 1/1963 Benak 239/20 [22] Filed Sept. 8, 1969 3,165,966 1/1965 Pribyl 239/17 X [45] Patented July 27, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. figamnier sglanley J3 68!,9813 M. '3 I961 sistani xamuteronnan tac r.

Attorney-Shlesmger, Arkwright & Garvey ABSTRACT: A fountain has a translucent molded plastic basin with a unitary conduit piece integral therewith to pro- [54] SPLASH mumrlimc FOUNTAIN Um vide upstanding fluid conduits for the bottom of the basin. The

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

conduits have directional, fluid passageways therethrough [52] US. CL 239/20 which provide a nozzle for the fountain jets of fluid 1 1111- Fluid drains between the conduits to a central pump [50] Fieldof Search 239/ 16- t d i a central depressed receiving chamber integral 13 with the basin. A fluid supply system carries fluid from the pump to the conduits; these conduits have flow-restricting [56] References Cmd washers of different size to regulate fluid flow to various con- UNITED STATES PATENTS d i Des. 63,163,110/1923 Zinker 23/13 In multiple tiered basin fountains directional jets are 609,316 8/ 1898 Zawiejski 239/17 X disposed at the bottom of the upper basins and direct the jet 1,939,803 12/ 1933 Cataldi 239/17 streams so that they fall on a splash-inhibiting member such as 2,888.205 5/1959 Trucco 239/20 asmooth inclined splash board.

i i i v I I 44 5o 16 as 20 so 1 3o 3e 1 l I 54 32 .2 24 I 46 2e 34 42 4 40 l i 22 12 5s 64 1 14 62 62 64 54 so 5e PATENTEDJummn 595' 478 SHEET 1 BF 3 I I 5 so BY W M ATTORNEYS 4 INVENTOR Don W Power SHEEI 3 BF 3 PATENTED JULZT l97l R 2% WWW m a Y B ATTORNEYS SPLASH-INHIBITING FOUNTAIN UNIT This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 681,981, filed Nov. 13,1967.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fluid fountains and water fountains in particular wherein the water is continuously recirculated through the fountain unit.

Many different types of water fountains have been provided in the past. These constructions had been somewhat complicated and relatively expensive to manufacture, particularly with respect to the construction and arrangements of the fluid conduits and the fluid supply system.

Assembly costs were also incurred where a directional jet of fluid was required, because of the special nozzle which had to be inserted within the fluid outlet openings of the conduits.

With indoor home fountains therehas always been a splash problem where the fluid jet falls more than a short distance.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a fountain construction wherein these problems are overcome.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fluid fountain having asimple, unitary construction of readily assembled plastic members. Y

It also an object of this invention to provide an in-built fluid conduit system wherein special directional nozzles are not required.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid supply network to the fluid conduits in the basin which will regulate the flow of fluid to each of the conduits, and consequently determine the height of the fluid jets issuing from each upstanding fluid conduit.

Still further object of this invention is to provide a splash inhibiting construction to be used with any type of fountain.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction, arrangement, combination of the various parts of the apparatus as hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top view of the fountain unit;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the unit along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the arrangement of the several parts;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 2, illustrating the fluid supply system;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing an orifice plate for controlling the flow of fluid to the inner upstanding fluid conduit ring;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, showing the orifice plate in the supply line to the outer upstanding fluid conduit ring;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified nozzle-opening constiguction.

FIG. 7 shows a tiered basin fountain with a splash inhibiter construction.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of one of the water basins showing a directional jet passageway.

DESCRIPTION Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a basin 10 is shown which is made of clear or translucent plastic material. It has a flat intermediate section :12 which surrounds a depressed pump receiving section 14. The basin 10 has a sidewall 16 and an annular peripheral flange.

A circular conduit ring assembly piece 20 having a central opening 22 to accommodate the pump assembly is disposedon the central flat section 12 of basin l0 and is integrally bonded thereto.

The ring assembly piece 20 has a flat circular central section 24 surrounded by an inner upstanding circular rib section 26 having a break 27 and closed ends adjacent thereto.

The circular space defined between the upstanding rib 26 and the flat central section 12 of the basin 10 defines a hollow.

ring-shaped inner fluid supply conduit. A plurality of vertical directional jet fluid nozzle passageways are made in the top surface of the upstanding circular rib 26 The fluid jet issues upward through these openings to form a circular pattern of high vertical spray jets which fall backinto the basin.

An intermediate flat section 32 forms a trough between an inner upstanding circular rib section 26 and the outer upstanding circular rib section 34. The cavity between the upstanding rib section 34 and the central flat section 12 of the basin I0 defines a hollow ring-shaped outer fluid conduit 36. There is a small break 37 in the ring-shaped upstanding rib section and the rings have closed ends adjacent thereto. A plurality of directional jet nozzle passageways 38 inclined slightly radially inward are drilled through the upper surface-of the outer circular upstanding rib 34. When fluid issupplied to the conduit 36, it passes through these fluid jet nozzles to give a circular arrangement of a plurality of inwardly slanted vertically extending fluid jets which risehigh above the conduits and fall back into the basin.

The annular section between the outer upstanding ring 34 and the peripheral wall 16 of the basin forms a trough 40 in which fluid is retained. The basin provides a fluid reservoir at a level 42 which is maintained slightly below the uppermost portions of the ring-shaped fluid conduits. This level is important since the water in the trough should not interfere with the issuing of jets of fluid from the fluid nozzle outlets 30 and 38.

An inverted cup-shaped cap 44 provides a cover over the central pump assembly opening 22 and has a flange 46' adjacent the opening integral with the flat central portion 24 of the fluid supply ring piece 20. A plurality of fluid inlets 48 are disposed adjacent the flange 46.

The pump unit generally indicated at 50 is disposed within the cup-shaped pump receiving pocket 14 and the inverted cup-shaped cap member 44.

A base member generally indicated at 52 having upwardly sloping sidewalls 54 is disposed immediately below the bottom of the basin member 10 and has a peripheral flange 56 which is integral therewith.

A transformer 60 supplies low voltage power to the light system consisting of the plurality of bulbs 62 which are each connect with the interior of the hollow inner fluid supply ring 28.

Similarly, an outer fluid supply conduit 74 is connected to the end of conduit 70 and extends up through the flat central plastic portion of the basin to connect with the hollow outer fluidv supply ring 36.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conduit 72 showing an orifice plate 76 having an opening 78 through which the fluid passes to the inner fluid supply ring 28.

F IG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of the conduit 70 showing the orifice plate 80 which has a small opening 82 therein and through which fluid passes to the conduit 74 and up to the hollow outer fluid supply ring 36.

The diameter of opening 78 is larger than that of opening 82 so that a larger amount of fluid is supplied to the hollow inner fluid supply ring 28. With the greater flow of fluid through the conduit 28, the height of the fluid jets issuing through the fluid nozzle outlet 30 will be higher than the jets of fluid issuing from the hollow outer fluid supply ring 36. In FIG. 3 the slight angular inclination of the axis of the fluid nozzle outlets 38 is greatly exaggerated for illustration'purposes. For larger units, it is necessary to modify the fluid nozzle outlet areas for the higher jet of fluid that will be required.

In FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of a larger type unit is shown wherein the inner supply ring conduit 84 defined by the upstanding ring like section 86 has a thickened upper wall section 88 through which the fluid nozzle outlet passes.

A trough section 92 is disposed between the upper outstanding circular rib 86, and the outer circular upstanding rib 94. This also has a thickened upper section 96 with a fluid nozzle outlet 98 through which fluid from the hollow outer fluid supply ring 100 is passed.

. Referring to FIG. 7, a multiple tiered basin fountain 100 has an upper water basin 102 supported by a statue 104 through which water is pumped upwardly through the base connection 106 and to the upper basin 102.

A plurality of jet streams fall from openings within the basin to the statue base support 110 where they strike the inclined plastic splash section 112 and run into the middle basin 114.

Basin 114 is supported by the columns 116, 118 and 120. Column 118 is a hollow conduit connected to a pump not shown which conducts water from the lower most basin 122 to the upper basin 102.

The water level generally indicated that 124 in the lower basin 122 is kept constant by the streams 126 which provide a complete recycling of the fluid in the fountain.

The streams 126 fall from the middle basin 114 upon the lower base portion 128. The streams impinge upon the inclined splash pieces 130 which are disposed at an angle indicated at 132 to the horizontal. The angular inclination of these pieces as well the inclined plastic splash piece 112 of the middle basin will depend upon the size and pressure of the stream of water. In most instances, the optimum angular inclination is between 40 to 45". This arrangement solves the splash problem because the stream is not abruptly terminated as it hits the water but falls down the inclined splash piece as a solid stream and then slips back into the fluid in the basin.

Instead of a flat plastic piece, it is possible to use a piece of screening through which the stream would pass, but the plastic sheet construction is preferred.

Referring to FIG. 8, the directional jet arrangement for the middle basin 114 is shown. The same construction would apply to the upper basin 102. The basin 140 is filled with fluid 142 which passes out through the bottom of the basin wall 140 through the inclined directional jet passage 144 in a stream 146. The height of the fluid in the basin and the angle of the directional jet passageway determine the path of the jetstream 146.

OPERATION To operate the device the basin is filled with water to the proper water level as shown at 42 of FIG. 2, and the power connected to the small electric fluid pump 50. Fluid is passed through the pump and through the conduits 70, 72 and 74 to the ring-shaped fluid supply conduits 28 and 36. Fluid passes through the nozzle outlets 30 and 38 to provide a plurality of jets of fluid which rise high above the basin forming two concentric rings of fluid jets. The fluid falls back into the trough and it is continually recirculated by the pump 50.

The basin is made of translucent or clear material so that the lights 62 when lit will shine up through the flat central portion 12 of the basin and through the water to illuminate both the water and the rising jets.

The advantage of this arrangement is that is is unnecessary to have bulbs and electrical work for light directly immersed in the fluid as with prior units.

The thickness of the upstanding circular ring members is of importance. For smaller units of approximately l8-inch basin diameter, it should be approximately one-sixteenth inch thick to provide the necessary nozzle effect. In the larger models, such as illustrated in FIG. 6, it is necessary to make the nozzle section proportionately thicker to obtain the desired jet from the nozzle opening. For a fountain using water, the nozzle opening diameter is approximately one-twentieth of an inch.

, In order to increase the effectiveness of the lights used within the base, it is possible to use a highly reflective surface or a mirror surface between the light and the upwardly sloping sidewalls 54 of the basin 52.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that an improved type of fountain design, employing a simplified nozzle arrangement for the fluid jets incorporated within the composite molded ring-shaped fluid conduits is possible, and that automatic compensation for the height of the jets of fluid emanating from each ring is possible with the use of an orifice plate or other type of flow restricting assembly.

It will further be seen that a new and improved type of lighting system is provided which obviates the requirement for a waterproof immersible lighting system, by making the basin of the fountain of clear or translucent material to permit the light to shine upwardly therethrough.

The use of a splash-inhibiting construction in the fountains makes'it possible to overcome the splash problem for both indoor and outdoor types of fountains.

In addition to these particular features, the construction of fountains having upstanding conduits is considerably simplified with the use of a specially configured basin section on which a unitary conduit piece is mounted.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A fluid fountain, comprising:

a. a shallow basin having a central bottom section surrounded by a relatively high sidewall,

b. a plate member disposed in said basin and mounted on said bottom section and which has a continuous upstanding hollow conduit rib formed therein, the lower portion of said conduit rib contacting the central bottom section of the basin in sealing engagement whereby the surface of the bottom central section of the basin and the upstanding conduit rib form a fluid conduit,

d. the conduit rib at the top thereof being disposed at an elevation higher than the fluid level for the basin,

e. means to supply fluid under pressure to said fluid conduit,

f. the top section of the fluid conduit having a plurality of spaced passages therethrough, the surface of each forming an individual directional nozzle through which the fluid from the conduit passes under pressure to issue as a stream ofliquid,

g. the length of the directional nozzle passages being greater than their diameter,

h. the axial inclination of the passages being such that the streams issuing therefrom will fall into the basin in a predetermined pattern of streams of liquid.

2. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the length of said directional jet passageways is approxi mately one-sixteenth of an inch and the passageway has a diameter of approximately one-twentieth of an inch.

3. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said unitary formed conduit piece has a plurality of concentric upstanding conduit ribs and the said fluid passageways in the outer concentric fluid conduit are inclined radially inward.

4. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said basin has a central depressed integral pump receiving chamber within which a fluid pump is disposed and to which fluid flows from the interior of the basin,

b. supply conduits connect said pump to openings in said basin intermediate section directly below the upstanding fluid conduits, and

c. said upstanding conduits are discontinuous to permit fluid to drain from the entire basin to said pump.

5. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said basin construction provides a plurality of fluid conduits, 7

b. fluid supply means is separately connected to each of said fluid conduits, and

c. each of said supply conduits contain separate flow restricting means which permit individual regulation of the fluid pressure within the corresponding fluid conduits to control the height of the directional jets issuing from said fluid passageways.

6. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. a base member is disposed below said basin,

b. fluid supply means is disposed within said base member, having an intake connected to said basin and an output connected to said fluid conduits,

c. lighting means disposed within said base member, and

d. said base member having an interior reflective surface for reflecting light from said lighting means upwardly through said translucent plastic basin.

7. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. means for inhibiting splash of the falling streams is disposed within the basin above the fluid surface in the path of the individual streams so that they impinge thereon and are guided down into the fluid of the basin.

8. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the splash-inhibiting means includes a downwardly sloping continuous surface, the lower end of which is disposed within the liquid of the basin.

9. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

a. the splash inhibiting means is a smooth planar surface disposed at an angle of between 30 to 60 with the liquid level surface in the basin.

10. A fluid fountain, comprising:

a. a shallow basin having a central bottom section and a sidewall, and which is adapted to hold a body of fluid,

b. nozzle means for producing a plurality of individual streams of fluid in a preselected pattern all of which fall downwardly and directly into the body of the fluid,

c. splash-inhibiting means disposed within the basin and ineluding a downwardly inclined continuous surface member having its upper and major portion thereof disposed near and immediately above the fluid surface of the basin in the paths of the streams of fluid as they fall toward the basin, while the lower portion is disposed within the fluid of the basin so that the streams strike the upper portion of the member and are deflected to run smoothly downward along its surface into the body of the fluid. 11. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

a. said means for producing a plurality of individual streams 

1. A fluid fountain, comprising: a. a shallow basin having a central bottom section surrounded by a relatively high sidewall, b. a plate member disposed in said basin and mounted on said bottom section and which has a continuous upstanding hollow conduit rib formed therein, c. the lower portion of said conduit rib contacting the central bottom section of the basin in sealing engagement whereby the surface of the bottom central section of the basin and the upstanding conduit rib form a fluid conduit, d. the conduit rib at the top thereof being disposed at an elevation higher than the fluid level for the basin, e. means to supply fluid under pressure to said fluid conduit, f. the top section of the fluid conduit having a plurality of spaced passages therethrough, the surface of each forming an individual directional nozzle through which the fluid from the conduit passes under pressure to issue as a stream of liquid, g. the length of the directional nozzle passages being greater than their diameter, h. the axial inclination of the passages being such that the streams issuing therefrom will fall into the basin in a predetermined pattern of streams of liquid.
 2. The fluId fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the length of said directional jet passageways is approximately one-sixteenth of an inch and the passageway has a diameter of approximately one-twentieth of an inch.
 3. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said unitary formed conduit piece has a plurality of concentric upstanding conduit ribs and the said fluid passageways in the outer concentric fluid conduit are inclined radially inward.
 4. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said basin has a central depressed integral pump receiving chamber within which a fluid pump is disposed and to which fluid flows from the interior of the basin, b. supply conduits connect said pump to openings in said basin intermediate section directly below the upstanding fluid conduits, and c. said upstanding conduits are discontinuous to permit fluid to drain from the entire basin to said pump.
 5. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said basin construction provides a plurality of fluid conduits, b. fluid supply means is separately connected to each of said fluid conduits, and c. each of said supply conduits contain separate flow restricting means which permit individual regulation of the fluid pressure within the corresponding fluid conduits to control the height of the directional jets issuing from said fluid passageways.
 6. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. a base member is disposed below said basin, b. fluid supply means is disposed within said base member, having an intake connected to said basin and an output connected to said fluid conduits, c. lighting means disposed within said base member, and d. said base member having an interior reflective surface for reflecting light from said lighting means upwardly through said translucent plastic basin.
 7. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. means for inhibiting splash of the falling streams is disposed within the basin above the fluid surface in the path of the individual streams so that they impinge thereon and are guided down into the fluid of the basin.
 8. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the splash-inhibiting means includes a downwardly sloping continuous surface, the lower end of which is disposed within the liquid of the basin.
 9. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 8, wherein: a. the splash inhibiting means is a smooth planar surface disposed at an angle of between 30* to 60* with the liquid level surface in the basin.
 10. A fluid fountain, comprising: a. a shallow basin having a central bottom section and a sidewall, and which is adapted to hold a body of fluid, b. nozzle means for producing a plurality of individual streams of fluid in a preselected pattern all of which fall downwardly and directly into the body of the fluid, c. splash-inhibiting means disposed within the basin and including a downwardly inclined continuous surface member having its upper and major portion thereof disposed near and immediately above the fluid surface of the basin in the paths of the streams of fluid as they fall toward the basin, while the lower portion is disposed within the fluid of the basin so that the streams strike the upper portion of the member and are deflected to run smoothly downward along its surface into the body of the fluid.
 11. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 10, wherein: a. said means for producing a plurality of individual streams includes an upper basin containing fluid which has a plurality of spaced nozzle passages extending therethrough and disposed adjacent the bottom thereof.
 12. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 10, wherein: a. said splash-inhibiting means includes a smooth surfaced splash piece inclined to the horizontal at an angle between 30* to 60* depending upon the size and pressure of the streams iMpinging thereupon.
 13. The fluid fountain as set forth in claim 12, wherein: a. the said angle of inclination with the horizontal is approximately 45*. 